textures by lenabemanna and kim klassen

The Sakura Path

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Sakura matsuri

さまざまのこと思い出す桜かな

Samazama no koto omoidasu sakura ka na

(Is it a cherry blossom that reminds me of various things?)

- Bashô Matsuo

In Japan, in late March and early April, they celebrate the Sakura matsuri, or cherry blossom festival.

All eyes will be on the light pink florets as they fill the city sidewalks, public parks, and temple gardens with quivering bursts of color in the gentle breeze of early spring. Picnicking under the blossoms is an ancient tradition. Then, all too soon, the petals begin to fall, and the scene becomes a distant memory.

One explanation of Bashô’s haiku is that he is recalling that he abandoned the way of samurai and decided to live the way of haiku. Or simply that cherry blossoms encourage random thoughts.

The sibilant repetition of the “s” and “z” sounds (samazama, omoidasu, sakura). The repeated consonants of “k” (koto, sakura, kana) produce a melodic sound to Bashô’s phrase.

“Do you remember many things?” is today’s colloquial understanding of the phrase.

A more literal translation is, “Various things, they call to mind, ah, cherry blossoms !”

櫻花橋

blog

Sakura trees in bloom

University of Washington Quadrangle

Seattle, Washington

Expired 220 Fuji NPZ 800/Hasselblad 500 C/M

(500 @ f2.8)

same day, same place, different time.

Thanks for your visit. Comments, faves and invitations are very appreciated if you chose to leave any.

Ornamental cherry blossom, sakura

Another shot from Greenwich Park at golden hour

Fukuoka Chuo Park, Fukuoka, Japan

Located : Toji temple, Kyoto.

京都 / 洛南 東寺

Tokyo, LeicaCL, Fujifilm Provia100

@Nanzen-ji Temple

Kyoto

関東、関西の主だった公園、植物園は殆ど行っているが、とりわけ私がお気に入りの場所は、何をさておき京都府立植物園(24万ha)なのである。ここは敷地面積こそ新宿御苑、神代植物公園、万博記念自然文化園等には及ばないが、顧客満足度が極めて高い植物園と思う。

大きな満開のサクラの木の下で柔らかな草の上でゆったりと昼寝が出来る。高齢者の方には道府県を選ばずして無料で入園できるよう配慮されている。サクラや紅葉の名所でもあり季節にはライトアップもなされる。珍しい植物も多い。勿論大温室もあり四季折々の花がとても綺麗に管理されているのである。尤も私は京都府立植物園の関係者ではありませんが。。

画像は、昼寝の最中に覆い被さるサクラを撮ったものです。

さくら・さくら

Sakura sakura

@ Matsuda

HBW!!

During the sakura season in April, cherry trees are in full bloom at Himeji, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan.

Cherry blossom

A cherry blossom is the flower of any of several trees of genus Prunus, particularly the Japanese cherry, Prunus serrulata, which is called sakura after the Japanese (桜 or 櫻; さくら)

Located : Toji temple, Kyoto.

京都 / 洛南 東寺

Cherry blossom...

Sakura, Sushi, Kyoto, all best of Japan in April